Shirt Challenge - a loss... and a win

I'm officially declaring my self challenge to create 6 shirts over 12 weeks, over. I didn't even make them over 18 weeks.  So, in that, I failed. I guess.

On the other hand, I now have four new tops that make me happy. I win! I win!

The process of the challenge was interesting to me, and to a point, it did give me some encouragement to create when otherwise I wouldn't have had it. But life also happens, and did happen, and that is OK, too.
I'm not a fashion blogger - or even fashionable - but I do love that creative process, and have with doses of Project Runway, come to understand fashion a little more than I did (and yet still come to the conclusion that fashion - as such - is a little beyond me, or not as interesting as creativity is).

I still have two pieces of fabric left over from the challenge, and I think, I think, I have patterns picked out to go with them. I also have a shirt cut out for my brother (been cut out a while) and an apron to make for a friend (it will be my first time making an apron). So there are still projects on the horizon.

Here is one idea. I really like the short sleeved version of this top.

See the little wavey stripes on this fabric? They are horizontal on the fabric, but I will cut them the top so they are verticle. Yeah, I know, but that is how they SHOULD have printed the fabric...

I love some leaves and a tunic!

Again, I will go short sleeved. It is just a more useful length for me. I'll also point the leaves down. If I can remember to do that when I'm laying out the pattern and cutting, that is.

The main reason that I decided to conclude my shirt challenge, though, (yes, I know, time was up. WAY up) is that I have a new challenge. I need to get some things made for March and the Wild Wild West Steampunk convention in Old Tucson! It will be our third time there. I added to my wardrobe last year a little, but I would like to get two new outfits ready for this year. Yeah. I'll need to get on the ball with that, won't I.

Shirt Challenge #4 part 2

I actually like thinking/talking about the process in crafting and sewing more and more. I enjoy reading about other people's process as they make things as well. I thought I would share some of that with you as promised before I spent the week I wanted to use up sewing trying not to cough up my lungs. ew.

First of all, I look at fabric and patterns. I have a few that I keep going back to, and this is probably THE pattern for me. I can't tell you how many times I've made this shirt. I can only say many. I've made them for myself, of course, and both my brother and my dad. Dad used to like having a Christmas shirt to wear during the season, and I know I made him at least 2 of those. I made one or two for Ron, but he has decided that he likes a different pattern, with a stand-up collar better. I think the first time I made it, I was still a teen-ager.

Yes, this pattern is in a zip-lock bag. It is also about 40 years old.

Basic loose fit, button down shirt. I've done it with lining and without lining. I've enlarged it. I've lengthened it. I don't feel like this shirt is much of a challenge, really, but I think the pattern still works.

Wore my new shirt for the first day with students. I liked it!

You can see more of the pattern in the fabric in this photo. When I make this shirt for me, I shorten the sleeves, otherwise I fin myself rolling them up. I also have learned that for the smoothest look for the long run, it is best to sew down the facings in the front. It also saves some on ironing. At least on some versions of the shirt. I also sew the button holes horizontally instead of vertically. This is something my mom started me on. For those of us "of size" it allows a little movement of the buttons without haveing them pop out of the button hole as easily.

Formal? No, workplace appropriate? Absolutely (at least if you work in a school like I do). Comfortable? YES! I am very happy with this new camp shirt!